BMT Defence Services, a subsidiary of BMT Group, has successfully completed a technology assessment and road-mapping study for the Royal Navy’s Future Surface Combatant (FSC) programme. The FSC is expected to build on the capabilities of the existing type 22 and type 23 multi-purpose frigates that they will replace, as an integral part of the balanced fleet required to support the UK’s future defence commitments.
BMT and project partner Systems Engineering & Assessment (SEA) carried out this important study for the Surface Combatants Directorate (a team within the Ministry of Defence [MoD], responsible for delivery of the FSC programme).
The study team identified potential technologies for inclusion in the FSC concept design, considering existing and required future capabilities, technology lifecycles, compatibility, design, cost and risk. Over 50 individual technologies were examined in areas such as novel hull forms, power and propulsion, navigation, communication, radar and combat systems, and deployed/embarked systems. The study, which took four months, produced a wide variety of detailed technology roadmaps, technology maturity assessments and supporting information. The study outputs will help to inform the FSC initial gate (IG) business case, the first approval point in the design, development and construction programme.
Tim Hardy, BMT project manager of the study, says, “BMT received extremely positive feedback for the knowledge delivered through this study, which was carried out in a relatively short period of time. The fundamental approach that we adopted has been successfully applied in past studies for the UK MoD. We provide clients with a broad, accurate and up to date appraisal of enabling technologies that have potential merit for inclusion in any ship or submarine design. We are looking forward to further significant involvement in the maturing FSC programme.”
BMT Defence Services is also a core member of the MoD’s new naval design partnership (NDP). In April 2008, the NDP began 12 months of technical studies for the FSC concept design.